Envelop-machine.



G. P. TAYLOR. ENVELOP MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0GT.13, 1909.'

Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

7 58 75 38 Y /0 .7 lgs; a?

33 -ff m57, M'Ilf '3 [55 L 7.27i ,87 i `l// I /07 56 7J wml' la7/5; f

A TTORNEYS,

G'. P. TAYLOR.- BNVELOP MAGHINE.

` v y APPLICATION FILED 00T.13, 1909. 977,758. Patented Dec. 6, 1910. 7

8 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ATTORNEYS'.

G. P. TAYLOR. BNVELOP MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED 00T.13, 1909.

977,758. Patented De@..6,191o.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

A Troie/w3 Ys.

G. P. TAYLOR;

' ENVI-ILDP MACHINE.

. APPLICATION FILED 0OT.13, 1909. 977,758. Patented 1560.6, 1910.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

2&6 20,5 232 37 45 Y 3 o/ 2% 0 1 wln/@Mm 6 .l 0 U 30 300 49m JNVENTOR.55@ i2 /f 70%@ BY A TTORNEYS.

WJTNESSES: 493

G. P. TAYLOR. ENVELOP MACHINE. .APPLICATION FILED OUT. 13, 1909.

977,758. Patented Dec, 6,1910.

4 s #EVERTS-SHEET e.

G. P. TAYLOR.

ENVELOP MACHINE.

APPLIoATIoN FILED 001213, 1909.

Patented Dec.6,1910.

' a, slums-SHEET 7.4

WITNESSES. -JNVENTOR l BY A TTORNEYS,

G. P. TAYLOR.

ENVBLOP MACHINE.

Y APPLIOATIONvFILBD 001213, 1909. Dec. 6,

WTJVSSES: I I J VVENTOR. i e QM.

A TTORNEYS.

ENVEL OP-IVIACHIN E.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 13, 1909.

Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

Serial N o. 522,402.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE P. TAYLOR, a citizen of the UnitedStates ofAmerica, residing at Holyoke, in the county of Hampden and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Envelop-Machine, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for making envelops,and more particularly to the gumming and feeding mechanism for theenvelop blanks, the pressure-applying mechanism for the folded blanks orenvelops, the discharging mechanism for the envelops by means of whichthey are transferredfrom the folding-box to the chute, and the deliverymechanism for the envelops by means of which they are moved forward fromthe chute into the receiving trough.

Briefly my invention resides in a new combination gummer and feed whichoperates from below instead of from above a stack or pile of envelopblanks, through the direct medium of a gummed surface which contactswith and engages the bottom sheet or blank in the pile, gumming andremoving such bottom blank or sheet at one and the same time; in certainpeculiar operating mechanism for a vertically-reciprocating plungerwhich presses the folded blanks or envelops to insure the sticking ofthe gummed flap to the end flaps and which is the folding-plunger, suchmechanism including' means for balancing said plunger t-o a considerabledegree, or for providing a balanced motion therefor; a reciprocating andtilting folding-bed or trap, provided with knock-0E fingers, fordischarging the envelops into the chute; and improved mechn anism fordelivering the envelops to the receiving trough, such mechanismconsisting in part of top and bottom disappearing back-stops whichpermit the envelops to be pushed into such trough by the presser-arm,all as hereinafter set forth.

There are included in the combination gummer and feed mechanismmentioned above, among other features, means of control for'the feed,means for retaining the pile of blanks in position so that it issupported at all times, means to release from the picker roller theblank taken thereby from the pile, and means for applying gum to thegumming plate carried by said roller or picker.

The objects of my invention are, first, to produce an envelop machinewhich is capable of handling at an increased speed and turning out abetter grade or quality of envelops, in the manufacture thereof, thanhas beenA done heretofore, an advantage which is to some extent due tothe fact that in this machine the gummed blanks are delivered very closeto the folding-box; second, to produce an envelop machine which handlesthe blanks from which the envelops are made with a more positive andunfailing action, and also handles said blanks in a way which avoidssoiling them; third, to produce a machine that can be run continuouslywithout having to be stopped for the purpose of replenishing the blanks,since the same can be supplied while said machine is in full operation;fourth, to regulate to better advantage in the machine the amount ofpressure on the folded blanks or envelops; fifth, to protect thefolding-plunger mechanism from injury; sixth, to increase the certainty,safety, and facility with which the folded envelops are removed from thefolding-box, this result being attained through the medium of mechanismwhich drops the trap some distance vertically while in a level positionand before tilting it, so that said trap can carry each envelop clear ofthe walls of the folding-box, and consequently enables thefolding-plunger to assist in the envelop-discharging operation byforcing from said boX said envelop carried away and discharged by saidt-rap, since a portion of the downward movement of said plunger is thuspermitted to be utilized for this purpose-it may be noted, too, inpassing, that the tilting action of said trap or its mechanism operatesthe knock-oft' fingers without any outside contact being required;seventh, to provide comparatively simple but entirely effectual meansfor taking care of the folded envelops at the delivery point of themachine, and, eighth, to produce an envelop machine which not onlypossesses all of the advantages herein pointed out, but is simple in itsoperation, makes less noise than other machines, and is strong',durable, easy to keep in repair and running order and condition, andwithal practicable and efficient.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of the followingdescription.

I attain the objects and secure the advantages herein pointed out by themechanism being broken out; Fig. 15, an enlarged side .lines 1S18,looking in the direct-ion of the chine, or the table for the envelopblanks, A

with the parts carried thereby or supported thereon; Fig. 4, a sideelevation of one of the members, a cam-plate or dog for causing to beactuated one of the operating arms for the picker knock-ofiI plate,carried by said table; Fig. 5, an enlarged detail of the short arm,viewed from the inside,- which retains the operating arm of theoperating mechanism for the blank-supporting fingers in the path of thepicker shaft; Fig. 6, an enlarged outside elevation of said armsassembled on their supporting shaft; Fig. 7 an enlarged detail of saidoperating arm; Fig. 8,l an enlarged front elevation in partial sectionof the inanually-operating means for elevating said blank-supportingngers to raise the pile of blanks out of the path of the gumplate; Fig.9, a plan and section on lines 9 9, looking in the direction of thearrow, in Fig. 8; Fig. 10, a front elevation of the cross-piece and oneof the envelop-blank supports on the uppermost table; Fig. 11, anenlarged side elevation of the gummer and feed mechanism, showing therotary picker, the blank-supporting fingers and operating mechanismtherefor, and the gum-transfer roller each in two positions, theinactive positions of said fingers and said roller being represented bydot-and-dash lines, and the gum-receiving position in full lines and thepicking position by dot-and-dash lines of said picker; Fig. 12, asection on lines 12-12, looking in the direction of the arrow, in Fig.14; Fig. 13,y a detail showing the plunger-operating mechanism and thegumtransfer roller-operating mechanism from the inside of the machinelooking toward the right-hand side; Fig. 14, an enlarged front elevationof the discharging mechanism, the middle portions of the connectingmembers elevation of said discharging mechanism, with portions brokenout as in the preceding view, said elevation being taken inside of themachine looking toward the left and showing the two extreme positions ofsaid mechanism in which latter are included the trap and the knock-offfingers; Fig. 16, an enlarged side elevation of the reciprocating androtary picker Fig. 17, an end view of said picker; Fig. 18, across-section or interior view on arrow, in Fig'. 16; Fig. 19, alongitudinal section on lines'19-1'9,looking in the direction of thearrow, in Fig. 18; Fig.` 20. a' detail of one of the arms with whichtheends of said picker are equipped; Fig. 21, an enlarged detail of l thedelivery mechanism, taken onA lines Y 22,3?22, looking in the directionof the arrow, in Fig. 22; Fig. 22, a bottom view of said deliverymechanism, and Figs. 23, 24, and 25, each an explanatory view disclosingsome feature of the gumming and feeding operation.

Similar figures refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

First considering the frame and other supporting parts of the machine,it will be observed' that I provide a table 1 resting on two side pieces2, twoV slide-ways or tracks 3 mounted on posts et which rise from saidtable, such tracks being for a horizontal envelop-blank carrier 5 whichmoves forward and backward in the machine, an envelop-blank-supply table6 mounted at the front of the machine on posts 7 which also rise fromsaid table 1, vertical brackets 8 8 on thetable 6 at its front edge, twohollow posts 10 secured to the table 1 over the sides 2, anenvelop-receiving table 11 suitably supported from the front of saidsides below the tabley 1, and a chute 13 extending from said table 1 tosaid table 11, said chute having a forwardv inclination from top tobottom and being provided or connected at the base with a forwardlyprojecting horizontal trough 14;` which is let into said table 11 andthe upper' surface of the floor of which is level with the correspondingsurface of such table. The sides 2 of the frame may be stiffened bymeansV of cross-pieces to whatever extent is necessary, and providedywith whatever supporting parts are required, but some of these parts andmembers have been omitted from the drawings inl order to avoidobstructing essential elements which appertain more directly to theinvention, and for this reason as well as for lack of space, too,portions of the frame, the table 11, andY other elements have beenbroken off or broken away.

The chute 13 comprise-s two side pieces that are adjustably supportedfrom two rods 15, depending from the table 1, by-means of slottedlangleirons 16'-16 secured to said sides on the outside, and clips 17-17clamped on to said rods. Slots 2O in the angle-irons 16, through whichscrews 21 pass to fasten said angle-irons to the side pieces of thechute 13, enable the latter to be adjusted forward or backward, andslots 22 in said angle-irons, through which screws 23 pass to fasten theangle-irons to the clips 17, enable said side pieces to be adjustedlaterally. Vertical adjustment can also be effected by loosening theclips 1'7 and moving themfup or down on the rods 15. Screws? which clampthe clips 17 to the rods 15 are represented at 17a. The chute opens atthe top into the folding-box as usual,` andv at the bottom into thetrough 14.

Journaled in the sides 2, below the hori- Zontal plane of the table 11and in the center of the machine, is a main-driving and cam shaft 24.Parallel with each other and with the shaft 24 are two shafts 25 and 26which are mounted in the sides 2 forward of said shaft 24. The shaft 25is above the horizontal plane of the shaft 24, and the shaft 26 belowsuch plane. A rock-shaft 27 is j ournaled in the frame in suitablebrackets 28 which project rearwardly from the sides 2. The main-shaft24, in practice, may be equipped with the usual driving pulley, clutch,and balance or hand-wheel, although the precise manner of and means foractuating said shaft is not material to the present invention.

On the table 1 at the front end is a gumboX 29 through which extendslongitudinally a shaft 30 having a gum-supply roller 31 mounted thereonin such boX. There are, also, a doctor, scraper or shoe 32, for theroller 31, and adjusting screws 33 forr such shoe. The gum-roller shaft30 is suitably journaled in the gumboX 29 and on the table 1, and itextends beyond the right-hand edge of said table and has tight on itsprotruding terminal a pulley 34 and a hand-wheel 35. A cross-belt 36connects the pulley 34 with a pulley 37 tight on the main shaft, asshown in Fig. 1, and so drives the gum roller 31 while the machine is inoperation. The hand-wheel affords means forrotating the roller 31 whenthe machine is idle, it being frequently necessary to so operate saidroller for purposes of adjustment, cleaning, etc.

The carrier 5 is provided adjacent to its front end with two lugs 33,and has pivoted thereto adjacent to its rear end a connectingi'od 39.This carrier is of ordinary con struction, and the mechanism foroperating the same from the main shaft and which connects with the backend of the rod 39 is also of ordinary construction, both being old andwell-known, hence it has not been deemed necessary or advisable toencumber this case with fuller or furthei` illustrations of the same. Atthis point it is pertinent to state that the folding mechanism for theenvelops, or rather for the blanks out of which the envelops are made,with the eX- ception of two members presently to be described, isomitted, since it forms no part of my invention, is old and well-known,and is not needed for a full and clear understanding of said invention.The last-mentioned omitted parts are the folders themselves and themechanism which operates them, the location of the former being in thecenter of the table 1 between the posts 10.

The parts of the machine thus far de scribed are generally very similarto esorresponding parts lin other types or styles of envelop machines,excepting in so far las 'such' parts are more or less dlrectlylnjsupports 43.

fluenced by the new features or combine more or less intimately withthem. Having, now, very fully explained the aforesaid parts, I willnexttake up in detail the description of the several new features inboth their structure and function, commencing with the combinationgumming and feeding appliances and mechanisms.

As has been stated, envelop blanks are fed from the bottom of the pilein this machine, instead of from the top of a pile as in many otherenvelop machines, which fact renders it necessary to cut out the table6, as shown at 40, in Fig. 3, and to provide supports over or withinsuch opening for the blanks, certain of such supports being adjustableand certain others being automatically movable in and out beneath thefront end of the pile of blanks. A blank or. a pile of blanks 41 in planis indicated by dot-and-dash lines in F ig. 3, and in side elevation infull lines in the last three views. As herein represented, the table 6really consists of two separate pieces or sections united at the back bya cross-piece 42, but

this is immaterial so long as the required opening 40 is provided.

Two center back supports 43, two lateral back supports 44, and twomovable front fingers 45 support the pile of blanks 41 from below, anduprights or posts 46 support said blanks at the sides, centering themand retaining them in pile formation. The supports 43 and 44 all arehorizontal, of course, and the fingers 45 have a generally horizontaldirection. The supports 43 are merely. plates or slides arranged touphold the back end of the pile 41. Angular brackets 47-47 are providedto carry the A series of horizontally-arranged holes 421, Fig. 10, istapped into the face of the cross-piece 42 to receive bolts 48 by meansof which the vertical parts of the brackets 47 are fastened to saidcross-piece, the plurality of such holes permitting the brackets withtheir supports to be adjusted laterally. The supports 43 are attached inslide-ways under the horizontal parts of the brackets 47 by means ofbolts 49 which pass through longitudinal slots 43a in said sup ports,the slots permitting the supports to be adjusted forward and back. Thesupports 43 are thus capable of being adjusted to accommodate themselvesto blanks of different shapes and sizes. The supports 44 are providedwith vertical posts 50 which are received in split collars 54 at theinner ends of two horizontal plates or slides 51 secured to the table 6by means of bolts 52 which pass through longitudinal slots 53 in saidslides. The split collars 54 and bolts 55 are employed to secure theposts 50 and the supports 44 to the slides 51. The supblanks of any sizeand shape by means of the bolts 55 and 52, owing to the presence of thesplit collars 54 and the slots 53 in the slides 51. The four posts 46are carried at the inner ends of the same number of horizontal plates orslides 56 longitudinally slotted at 57 to receive bolts 58 which securesaid slides to the table 6. The presence of the slots 57 in the slides56 enables the latter to be shifted so as to locate the posts 46 in theangles in the blanks between the several flap portions of suchblanks-see Fig. 3. From the foregoing it is clear that, when the fingers45 are normally disposed or in active position beneath the front end ofthe pile 41, not only said pile as a whole but every blank therein isheld in place on the supports 43 and 44 and said fingers by the posts46, and that this condition must obtain as long as the ngers remainundisturbed.

Fastened by bolts 59 in vertical slideways 60, which overhang theopening 40 in the table 6 near the cross-piece 42, are two cem-plates ordogs 61. These dogs are vertically adjustable due to the fact that thereis a longitudinal slot 62 in each, as appears in Fig. 4. The oiiice ofthe dogs 61 will be explained hereinafter.

Journaled in the tops of the brackets 8,

in line with each other and parallel with the front edge of the table 6,are two rockshafts 63 and 64. Depending loosely from the adjacentterminals of the rock-shafts 63 and 64 are two arms or hangers 65connected by a cross-piece 66. Loosely journaled in the bases of thehangers 65 is a rock-shaft 67 to which the front terminals of thefingers 45 are rigidly secured, although preferably in such a way thatsaid fingers can be adjusted laterally to better accommodate them to thefront ends of envelop blanksof different angles. Split terminals 68 andscrews G9 are adequate for this purpose. Springs 70, extending betweenthe hangers 65 and pins 71 which project toward each other from the rearends of extensions 72 on the back sides of the brackets 8, tend to swingsaid hangers backward at their bases and to retain said bases normallyagainst the front edge of the table 6, thus locating the lingers 45 insupporting position beneath the front of the pile 41. Tight on therock-shaft 64 are two crankarms 73 and 74, and tight on the rock-shaft67 are two crank-arms 75 and 76. lVhen the parts are normally disposed,the crankarm 73 has a. generally backward and downward direction, thecrank-arm 74 has a generally backward and upward direction, thecrank-arm 75 has a generally forward but slightly upward direction, andthe crankarm 76 has a downward direction. A rod 77 connects thecrank-arms 73 and 75. The crank-arm 75 is on the right-hand terminalofthe shaft 67, and the crank-arm 76 on the 78, respectively, below theaforesaid pin and slot, as to dispose the parts normally with said pinin the back end of said slot, thus keeping the free end of said arm 78up and providing for forward movement of the parts, swinging as they dofrom the rockshafts 63 and 64, without diverting said free end of thearm 78 from a horizontal path of travel. This will be made clearpresently, and the reason given why provision of this kind is required.

Journaled in a bearing 82, on the table 6 near the right-hand frontcorner, is a short y horizontal rock-shaft 83, and tight on theleft-hand and right-hand ends, respectively, of this shaft are acrank-arm 84 and a segment-gear 85. A rod 86 connects the crankarm 84with the crank-arm 74 which is on the right-hand terminal of therock-shaft 64. h/Ieshing with the segment-gear 85 is a segment-gear 87tight on the upper end of a vertical rock-shaft 88 ournaled in a bearing89, on the right-hand edge of the table 6, and in the table 1. Tight onthe lower terminal of the rock-shaft 88, below the table 1, is a collar90 which is provided with an inwardly-extending handle 91 below and aninwardly-extending wing 92 above, the latter being provided with a pin93 which has a spring 94 under it and projects through the top of saidwing, as shown in Fig. 8. Secured to the under side of the table 1,above the collar 90 and the wing 92, is a segmental stop plate 95.Arranged in an arc of a circle having the axis of the shaft 88 for acenter and a radius equal to the. dist-ance from said axis to the axisof the pin 93, are two pins 96 and two holes 97 in t-he bottom of theplate 95, the pins being at the ends of such arc with the holes between,as best shown in Fig. 9. The distance between the pins 96 is greaterthan the width of the wing 92, and said pins extend downward both sidesof said wing to limit absolutely the movement of the same andconsequently the rotary motion of the rock-shaft 88, while thespring-pressed pin 93 is adapted to enter either of the holes 97 for asimilar purpose, only in this case the resistance offered thereby can beovercome by applying manual force to the handle 91. In other words, thepins 96 tix outside limits to the movement of the wing 92, while the pin93 in connection with the holes 97 temporarily locks said Wing in eitherof the positions determined by said pins 96, and prevents it from beingmoved to the other position without requiring more force to be exertedthan can be through the segment-gears 85 and 87 from the parts connectedwith the crank-arm 84. What has just been described is the throwoutportion or mechanism of the combination gumming and feeding mechanism,by means of which it is possible to cause the gumming and feedingoperation readily to be discontinued without stopping the machine or thewhole of said combination gumming and feeding mechanism, as will appearlater.

Coperating with the mechanism that operates the fingers which assist insupporting and releasing the envelop blanks and which has just beendescribed, is a reciprocating and rotary combination gummer and feedpicker-'roller 98 mounted on a shaft 99. Said shaft extends crosswise ofthe machine and has its terminals journaled in trucks 100-100 each ofwhich is provided at the top with two rolls 101 to run on a bar or track102. The trucks 100, with their rolls 101, and the shaft 99 may be saidto constitute a carriage for the roller 98. The tracks 102, one on eachside of the machine, have their ends fastened to four brackets 103supported on the posts 7. The shaft 99 is held in place in each truck100 by a block 104 and nutl 105, wherefore said shaft can be removedfrom its bearings without difficulty should occasion require. The trucks100, and with them the shaft 99 and the roller 98, are reciprocated onthe tracks 102 through the medium of two connecting-rods 106, tworocker-arms 107, the rock-shaft 27, a rocker-arm 108, a thrust-rod 109provided with a roll 110, a spring 111, and a cam 112 on the main shaft24. Each connecting-rod 100 has its front terminal pivoted at 113, Fig.11, to one of the trucks 100 and its rear terminal pivoted at 1111 tothe upper end of the associated rocker-arm 107. Both rockerarms 107 andthe rocker-arm 108 are rigidly attached to the rock-shaft 27, the formerextending upward and the latter downward. The thrust-rod 109 is pivotedat its upper rear end, at 115, to the rocker-arm 108, and has its lowerfront terminal bifurcated as shown at 11G, in Figs. 1 and 2, to fit overthe main shaft- 24: and reciprocate and oscillate thereon. The roll 110bears and rides on the cam 112, being retained in this relation by thespring 111 which is fastened at the front end to the frame of themachine, at 117, and at the back end to the rockerarm 108 above thepivot 115, at 118, and so causes the motion of said cam to be impartedto the thrust-rod 109 and by the latter in turn to the other operatingmembers for the trucks 100. The shape of the cam 112 is such and it isso timed or so placed on the shaft 24C relative to the other camsthereon and parts driven therefrom or in connection therewith that theshaft 99 and the roller 98 are reciprocated with the proper amount ofvariation in time and speed. All of the operating members for therock-shaft 27 are outside of the right-hand side piece 2 and beyond thepulleys 34 and 37 and belt 3G. Thecam 112 is at the right of thethrust-rod 109, and the roll 110 is mounted on a stud 119 that projectsfrom the same side of the thrust-rod above a horizontal line passingthrough the axis of said cam and a little behind a vertical line passingthrough such axis. The pivot 115 is a stud that has a threaded partwhich extends to the left through a siot 108a in the rocker-arm 108 andreceives a nut 120 to secure said stud to said arm; and the opposite endof said stud is received in the thrust-rod 109, a pin 115a being used inthe stud to hold said thrust-rod in place thereon. By adjusting thepivot 115 up or down in the slot 1082*, the travel of the trucks 100 andthe members carried thereby is decreased or increased accordingly. Suchadjustment is effected by loosening the nut 120, moving the stud andretightening said nut. The arm 78 is in the path of travel of the shaft99 at the left of the roller 98. The shaft 99, and with it the roller 98which is tight thereon, is revolved as it is reciprocated, since saidshaft has a gear 121 also tight thereon which meshes with a rack 122fastened to the underside of 'the table 6. The gear 121 is on the shafteries, and they are laterally adjustable on the shaft 99, rendered so bytheir hubs 1241 which are split and by bolts 125 which are adapted tobind said hubs to said shaft and release them from such binding contact.The ofice of the friction-disks 123 is both to limit the thrust of andto drive a gumtransfer roller 126 mounted tight on a shaft 127 whichalso has two friction-disks 128 tight thereon, these latter being sopositioned as to be brought intermittently into contact with saidfriction disks 128 and to be revolved thereby. The friction-disks 128have their peripheries beveled in the opposite directions to the beveledperipheries of the friction-disks l128, therefore it is plain that, byadjusting the last-mentioned disks, the distance between the shafts 99and 127 when both pairs of friction-disks are in contact can be varied.By means of these frictiondisks three objects are attained: First, thegum-transfer roller is caused to revolve; second, the height to whichsaid roller can rise is fixed, and, third, such height can be the roller98 and the adjacent truck 100 has been omitted, and so too has theassociated friction-disk 128 from the shaft 127, in order not to obscurethe working parts behind. The picker=roller 98, although represented inthe drawings as being made up of four sections mounted on the shaft 99and spaced apart thereon, is to be considered as a unit, this method ofconstructing it being resorted to merely for the sake of convenience inthe Y manufacture of the same.

The construction of the picker in detail will. next be considered, theroller 98 being an essential element thereof-'the foundation so tospeak. This roller is provided on its face or periphery with an angularplate, ridge or rib 129 which extends lengthwise of said roller with itspoint in the center, which rib constitutes the gummer or picker proper,and conforms generally to the out-- line of that portion of a blank, as41, to be gummed, this being the front iap or 'the edges of the same ofthe blank as represented in the drawings. The picker roller is furtherprovided on its face with two lags or risers 13() and 131, the latterand higher one falling short of the ends of the former and both havingangular edges somewhat similar to the rib 129, as represented at 132.The riser 130 is concentric with the natural periphery of the roller 98,and the riser 131 is eccentric thereto. he rib 129 and the risers 130and 131 are on the samehalf of the roller 98, and situated so that theangle of said rib points away from the angles of said risers, and viceversa. These risers come into practical play in the filial act ofdetaching the bottom blank from' the pile, by twitching such blank frombetween the rest of said pile and the supports 43 and 44, a part of thefeeding operation not yet explained.

Arranged to operate on the face of the roller 98, between the rib 129and the riser 130, is a knock-off plate or ap-detacher 133 in the formof a generally triangular plate fastened at 134 to the adjacent ends oftwo curved links or to such links near such ends. The angular edge ofthe flap-detacher 133 is adjacent lto the rib 129 and points in Vthesame direction. The links 135are placed between the outside and insidesections of the roller 98, and are pivoted at 136 to contiguous ends oftwo U-shaped rods 137 arranged in the end sections of said roller toslide in annular grooves 138 in the interior hubs of said sections. Thepivotal points 136 are located at the extreme ends of the links 135,which are immediately adjacent to the fastening points 134, and of thelong arms of the bent rods 137. Each of the op- -said spring is located,the arrangement being such as normally to tension the elbows of the twobent rods outward toward the sides of the roller sections which containthem and to maintain the links 135 with the flap-detacher in theirinward positions with the latter against the face of the roller. At-

each end of the roller 98 a curved operating arm 142 is pivoted at 143to said roller. Each arm 142 has a laterally-extending lip 144 at itsfree end on the outside, into the path of which as the pickerreciprocates and revolves one of the dogs 61 projects, and said arm hasa laterally-extending lug 145 on the inside, a short distance from saidlip, with a groove 146, Figs. 19 and 20, in the inner end thereof. A pin147 projects laterally from the elbow of Yeach rod 137 into the groove146 in the adjacent arm lug 145. Each end of the roller 98 is cutout, asshown at 1,48, to accommodate the lug 145 on the arm 142 at that end.The lugs 145 and the pins 147 operate in the end roller sections, andsaid lugs in the openings 148 as well. If, now, the arms 142 be swunginward on their pivots 143, as when their lips 144 conq tact with thedogs 61, the lugs 145 acting on the pins 147 force the rods 137 in thesame direction, against the resiliency of the springs 141; the outerends of the long arms of said rods are thus carried outward, taking withthem the links 135, and the iapdetacher is moved away from the face ofthe roller 98. The slots 139 in the links 135 permit said links to bemoved'outward with the fiap-detacher, and also to swing to whateverextent may be necessary, the pins 140 being the guiding mea-ns andfulcrums. The slots 146, in the lugs 145 for the pins 147, enable therods 137 to be actuated against the resiliency of their springs wit-houtbeing cramped, and the directions of the slots 139 in the links 135 aresuch as to cause the slotted terminals of said links to drop during theoutward movement of the parts, so that the apex of the tlap-detacher ismoved farther away from the face of the roller 98 than is the base. Thisprovision is desirable vbecause the gummed flap should be detached fromt-he apex of the rib 129 first and from the ends last, so that the blankwill not run backward, wrinkle, belly down, or otherwise get out ofshape and place during the detaching operation. Upon the release of thearms 142, the'springs 141 retract the rods 13.7 and so restore theconnected members to their former inactive or normal positions with theresult that the flap-detacher is drawn in against the face of the roller98 again.

Two split lugs 149 depend from the under side of the table 1, andsecured for adjustment in said lugs, by means of bolts 150, are twoeye-studs 151 which afford bearings for a transverse rock-shaft 152. Therockshaft 152 is behind the lugs 149. Fast at their rear ends on therock-shaft 152 are two curved rocker-arms 153 which extend forward andupward, through suitable openings in the table 1 adjacent to the ends ofthe gum-box 29, to afford bearings at their free terminals for the shaft127, to locate the gum-transfer roller 126 above the gumsupply roller31, .and to elevate said roller 126 into the path of the rib 129 on theroller 98 and retractit from such path. The split lugs 149 and the bolts150 allow the roller 126 to be properly located relative to the roller31 and the rib 129, by the adjustment thus adorded to the eye-studs 151and the parts which they carry and support` The free end of eachrocker-arm 153 is notched to receive the shaft 127, .and said arm isprovided on the outside with a latch 154, pivoted thereto at 155, toclose down over said shaft and hold it in its bearing, a spring 156being arranged to retain such latch normally in its locking position.Upon swing ing the latches 154 up on their pivots 155 .i and against theresiliency of the'springs 156,

the shaft 127 can be removed from its bearings in the rocker-arms 153. Acam 157 fast on the main sha-ft 24, a cam arm 158 mounted at its frontend on the shaft 25, a spring 159, a connecting-rod 160, and 'a crossrod 161,-which extends between vthe lower portions of the arms 153,constitute the operating or actuating mechanism for said arms. The upperterminal of the connecting rod 160 is pivotally att-ached to oneterminal of the rod 161, and the lower end of said connecting-rod ispivotally attached .at 162 to the rear end of the arm 158. Mounted on astud or pin 165 in the arm 158 below the pivot 162 is a roll 164 whichrides on the cam 157. The spring 159 extends between the arm 158 and acollar 166 fast on the shaft 26, which is a fixed shaft, and tensionssaid arm downward with its roll always on the cam.

In order to provide a little lost motion for the connecting-rod 160, sothat it will yield when the friction disks 128 contact with the frictiondisks 123, if necessary, and so avoid all liability of breakage andlessen the shock of such contact, the part of such rod that is pivotedto the arm 158 is made in the form of a socket 167, separate from therest of the rod which latter at the base ts into such socket and isprovided with a laterally-prop jecting pin 168 to operate in a slot 169in each side of the socket, and a spring 170 encircles the rod betweenthe socket and a collar 171 fast on said rod, .and disposes the parts sothat normally said pin is in the upper ends of the slots. The collar 171is adjustable so that the tension of the spring 170 can be regulated.From this itis clear that, when the arm 158 is raised by the cam 157,the connecting-rod 160, extended by the spring 170 to its full length,is car` ried with said arm until some obstruction is offered when,assuming that the maximum displacement of said arm by said cam has nottaken place, the major portion of said rod stops but the socket 167continues upward against the resiliency of said spring, the slottedparts 169 of the socket moving up on the pin 168. As soon as the partsdescend again the shortened rod is lengtlr ened once more by the spring170. Very little'lost motion is needed here, and the desired effect ismore in the nature of a cushioning effect than anything else.

VStarting with the combination gumming and feeding mechanism disposed asin Figs. 1, 2, 3, 8, 9 and 13, and assuming that there is a pile ofblanks support-ed from the table 6 and by the lingers 45, the operationof said mechanism in full is described as follows: The cam 112, on therevolving shaft 24, through the medium of the thrust-rod 109,connecting-rods 106, and intervening mechanism, causes the trucks 100 toreciprocate on the tracks 102. lThe trucks 100 carry with them forwardand backward the shaft 99 and the rotary picker thereon, and said shaftand picker are caused to rotate, through the medium of the rack 122 andthe gear 121 on the shaft, first in the direction of the associatedarrows in Figs. 2 and 11 as the parts advance, and then in the oppositedirection as said parts retreat. Just befo-re the picker arrives at theposition shown in full lines in Fig. 11, traveling forward and rotatingin the direction of the associated arrow, the cam 157, on the revolvingshaft 24, through the medium of the arms 158 and 153 and connecting-rods160, throws up the gum-transfer roller 126, as far as the friction-disks128 and 123 will permit. The roller 126, which before was in contactwith the revolving gum-supply roller 31 in the gum-box 29, is now revolving in the path of the advancing gummer and picker rib 129, as shown infull lines in Fig. 11, rotary motion being imparted to said roller 126by the same means that imparts such motion to the picker roller 98 owingto the engagement between the two pairs of friction-disks, but the tworollers revolve in opposite directions. The gumsupply roller 31 isrevolved constantly from the main shaft, by means of the pulleys 37 and34, the cross-belt 36 and the shaft 30, consequently the gum-transferroller 126 when in contact with said roller 31 is revolved therewith andreceives a supply of gum therefrom. The rib 129 next contacts throughoutits entire face with the roller 126, when said roller is lowered againby its operating mechanism onto the roller 31, there to remain untilsaid rib is again about to arrive at the field of action of the roller,the relative timing of the cams 112 and 157 being responsible fo-r this.Tere it not for the friction-disks, the roller 126 might be moved up toofar and so gum other parts of the picker besides the rib 129, whichwould lead to serious consequences as will be readily seen. A furtheradvantage of the friction-disks resides in the fact that, since two ofthem are adjustable, the amount of pressure between the roller 126 andthe rib 129 can be regulated with great nicety, whereby the etactIamount of gum required can be applied to said rib. During the furtheradvance of the roller 98 and before it reaches the forward end of itstravel, the shaft 99 encounters the back end of the arm 78 and carriessaid arm bodily forward. The forwardly-moving arm 78 swings forward thehangers G5, against the resiliency of the springs 70, and so takes thefingers 45 from beneath those portions of the blanks 41 which aresupported by said fingers, but the picker has traveled forward into a`position to serve as a substitute support for said blanks in place ofsaid fingers. As the hangers 65 swing outward at the bottom, on therock-shafts 63 and (S4, the connectingrod 77 also swings outward at thebottom, on a pivot 172 which connects it with the crank-arm 73, raisingthe crank-arm 75, to which it is pivoted at 173, and so rocks the shaft67 and turns down or dips the fingers 45; and the pin 8O moves forwardin the slot 79, as said pin is carried with the crank-arm 76 forward andout of the perpendicular, so that the free or back end of the arm 78 isthereby permitted to remain in contact or engagement with the shaft 99from the time the encounter takes place until the front end of thetravel of said shaft is reached, and during the backward travel as welluntil the shaft leavessaid arm. Then the picker arrives at the end ofits forward travel, it and the finger-operating mechanism including thefingers 45 themselves are disposed as represented by dot-and-dash linesin Fig. 11. At this time the rib 129 is in contact with the underside ofthe front fiap of the bottom blank in the pile, and said flap isadhering to said rib. It may be noted here that the movable parts of thepicker are now disposed as shown in Figs. 16, 17 and 18, and that theyhave been so disposed since said picker left the rear end of its traveland will so remain until the picker again approaches such end of travel.

r1`he picker, withthe front flap of the bottom envelop blank sticking tothe rib 129, next starts back with the direction of rota tion reversed,and commences to detach said blank from the rest of the pile. As thepicker in advancing pushes as it were the fingers. 45 before it and fromunder the pile 41, so now as said picker travels back said fingersappear to follow and in fact do follow to the extent necessary to resumetheir support-ing position beneath said pile by the time the picker hasretreated too far to uphold longer the pile or rather to assist in thatfunction. The fingers 45 are returned beneath the pile 41 through thesame agency that moved them forward, that is, the hangers 65, acted onby the springs and the connected and connecting members, the arm 78following the shaft 9.9 until said hangers strike the table 6 when saidshaft parts comf pany with said arm. The aforesaid bottom blank is nowrolled on to the backwardlytraveling and reversely-rotating picker as Ythe latter pulls it from the'pile 41, in the manner plainly shown inFigs. 23 and 24. The blank being thus fed is drawn on to the risers 130and 131, and just before the picker arrives at the position shown inFig. 25, with the angular parts 132 of said risers directly beneath andbearing up on the pile 41, the picker is ready to drag said blank freefrom all confining means at the rear, that is to say, from between therest of the pile and the supports 43 and 44, and does so while thepicker is moving from the position shown in Fig. 24 to that shown inFig. 25, said risers jerking said blank free between these two points orpositions. While the picker is passing from the position in Fig. 24 tothat in Fig. 25 where it has arrived at the back end of its travel, italso carries the blank over in front and deposits said blank on thecarrier 5 behind the lugs 38,sweeping or wiping the blank on to saidcarrier so to speak, first the ungummed part and then the gummed part.The gum-transfer roller 126 is down on the gum-supply roller 31 at thetime the rib 129 with the attached blank passes the gumming point orstation, the

timing of parts being such that said gumtransfer roller is at suchstation only during the advance of said rib. The detachment of theformer front, now the rear, flap of the blank from the rib 129 iseffected through the direct medium of the flap-detacher 133 and theindirect medium ofthe actuating mechanism therefor and the dogs 61. Asthe roller 98 reaches the back end of its travel, the arrangement andtiming of parts are such that the lips 144 on the arms 142 are carriedunder the dogs 61 and said arms are depressed or rocked inward on theirpivots 143 thereby, the arms in turn actuate the links 135 outward,through the medium of the interposed and connected U-shaped rods andagainst the force of the into contact with the gummed portions of 79 insaid arm 78.

iii,

springs and said links thrust out the flap-detacher 133 behind or nowreally above the gummed flap and force said flap olf of the rib 129. Thedetacher does not come the flap upon which it acts, but operates betweenor inside of them. A sufficient amount of gum from the rib 129 isdeposited on the flap to insure its adhering to the end flaps during thefolding operation. In Fig. 25, the gumined iiap has been nearlydisengaged from the picker and is just ready to drop and in the very actlof dropping onto the carrier with the rest of the blank, with thegummed surface uppermost. Immediately the picker starts forward againand the lips 144 clear the dogs 61, the springs 141 contract to restorethe detacher mechanism and the detacher itself to former and normalpositions. The blank being gummed and detached in the last two views isindicated by the reference numeral 174, and in these views and Fig. 28only the further supports 43 and 44 are represented, without the meanswhereby said supports are themselves sustained.

In the event that it be desired to operate the picker for some reasonwithout feeding the blanks, this can be done readily by grasping thehandle 91 and forcing it backward to actuate the wing 92 from the frontpin 96 to the rear pin 96, the pin 93 clicking from the front hole 97 tothe back hole 97 to assist said rear pin in holding said wing in its newposition. The effect of this action is that the collar 90 and the shaft88 are partially rotated, the connecting-rod 86, which ispivoted at 175to the crank-arm 84 and at 176 to the crank-arm 74, is actuated to drawdown said crank-arm 74, through the medium of the segment-gears 87 and85 and intervening parts, the shaft 64 is rocked to depress thecrank-arm 78, the connectingrod 77 and the crank-arm 75, and the shaft67 is rocked to elevate the lingers 45 or swing their free terminalsupward and so raise the pile of blanks 41 at its front end high enoughto clear the rib 129 whenever the picker is at the forward end of itstravel, that being the only place where said rib is presented'to saidpile, and to elevate the arm 78 or swing its free end upward out of thepath of travel of the shaft 99, through l the medium of the crank-arm 76which is tighten said shaft 67 and has its pin 80 in engagement with thefront end of the slot The picker can now be operated freely withoutaffecting the blanks above or disturbing the mechanism that operates thefingers 45. When the handle 91 is moved forward into its formerposition, the fingers 45 and the arm 78 are lowered by a reversemovement on the part of the intervening mechanism, the pile of blanksthen being in readiness for a continuance of the i feeding operation andsaid arm being in the path of the shaft 99.

In passing from either end of its travel to the other the picker doesnot need to make a complete revolution and, as a matter of fact, doesnot, only so much of a revolution being called for as will enable thepicker rib after rolling up under the front end of the pile of blanks toturn back far enough to properly deposit a blank on the carrier 5. Inother words, the amount of such revolution is whatl is necessary toenable the picker rib to cover the distance between the picking pointand the depositing point, and contrariwise.

It will be understood that, while the supports or posts 46 prevent theblanks from being shifted forward and backward by the picker, they donot interfere with t-he carrying away of the bottom blank by saidpicker, since said blank passes from between said posts downward throughthe opening 40 in the table 6.

Passing now to a consideration of the folding-plunger-operatingmechanism, and having special reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 18, it will beobserved that two vertically-reciprocat-ing rods 177 are arranged in thehollow posts 10, and that a cross-head 178 for a folding-plunger 179connects said rods at the top. The folding-plunger 179 is a verticalmember supported in the center of the crosshead 178, depending somedistance below the same, and having a folding-plate 180 at the base.This plunger is also for compression purposes, and it is its use in thiscapacity with which I have to do more particularly in the presentinvention. Vertical bolts forming stop pins 181-181 are tapped into theends of the cross-head 178, over the tops of the posts 10, to limit thedownward movement of said cross-head when they encounter said posts, theamount of such movement being changed by adjusting said pins in saidcross-head.

The rods 177 are reciprocated by the following means and in thefollowing manner: Connected at their upper ends by a pin 182 to the baseof each of the rods 17 7 are two rods 183 and 184, the rod 188 being theinner one. Each rod 183 has a` link 185 at the bottom, which link ismerely for the purpose of providing means for said rod to clear theshaft 24 without weakening the rod. A stud 186 projects inward from eachside piece 2, and loose on such stud is a double rocker-arm membercomprising a long arm 187 and a short arm 188. 'Ihe arms 187 and 188extend forward, and each of the former is pivotally connected at 189with the base of the adjacent link 185, a roll 190 being interposed onthe pivot immediately contiguous to the outside face of said link. Therocker-arms 187 and 188 are tensioned upwardly by means of two rods 191having their upper ends pivoted at 192 to the front ends ofthe shortarms 188 and their lower terminals loose in the inwardly-turned portionsof two brackets 193 on the inside of the side-pieces 2, through whichinturned portions said rods are adapted to reciprocate freely, andsprings 194 encircling said rods between said inturned portions of thebrackets and collars 195 on the rods, such collars being adjustable andso providing for changing the tension of said springs. The eyes in thelinks 185, through which the shaft 24 extends, are curved so as toenable the rods 183 to be swung on the pivots 182 by the action of therockerarms 187 as they oscillate on the studs 186. The base of each rod184 is pivoted at 196 to the rear end of a cam arm 197 loose on theshaft 25. A roller 198 is mounted on a stud or pin 199 carried b y eacharm 197 below the pivot 196.

A cam 200 is fast on the main-shaft 24 under the roll 198. rllhe high 7part of each cam 200 is widened by a shoe 201 securely attached to saidcam on the inside, such shoe normally being over the link roll 190. Thecams 200 when in motion, assisted by gravity, cause the folding-plunger179 to be reciprocated through the medium of the arms 197, rods 184 and177, and the crosshead 178, and to be brought down positively at the endof its downward travel each time through the medium of the shoes 201,the rolls 190 and the rods 183. That this last may be fullycomprehended, it should be observed thatthe weight of thefolding-plunger members is supported by the rolls 198 on the cams 200excepting just before said plunger reaches the end of its downwardstroke when there is or may be, assuming the machine to be engaged inthe work of folding envelops, a tendency to stop short of such end ofthe stroke, and it is at this time that the shoes 201 act to finishpositively said stroke and insure the sticking of the flaps of thefolded envelop beneath the folding-plate 180. The shoes 201 operatewhile the rolls 198 are on or above the low parts of the cams 200. Therocker-arms 187, upwardly spring-pressed as they are, serve to steadythe movement of the cam-operated and more especially the shoe-operatedparts, and as balancing mediums for the reciprocating members. In theevent that some obstacle gets into the folding-box or some obstructionotherwise interferes with the downward movement of the plunger 179, therolls 190 are not carried low enough to be ridden down by the shoes 201,but the latter pass under said rolls, instead of over them, either in orout of Contact therewith according to their location, wherefore saidplunger is not forced to complete its down stroke or further depressedand all liability is obviated of breakage or other injury to the machinefrom such obstacle or obstruction. After getting rid ofthe interferingmedium the folding-plunger-operating mechanism resumes its formeraction.

Taking up next the discharging mechanism, which depends for itsoperation on two cams 202 and 203 fast to the main shaft 24 in thecenter, as illustrated to the best advantage in Figs. 12, 14 and'15,attent-ion is again called to the fact that this mechanism has to dowith the bottom of the folding-box which cooperates in a. way with thefolding-plate 180. In the table 1 below the folding-plate 180 is anopening 204, and arranged to operate in this opening is a folding-bed ortrap 205 which is the aforesaid folding-box bottom. The trap 205 isprovided at the rear with two pairs of depending lugs 206 and at thefront with a pair of depending lugs 207. Two links 208 connect the trap205 with the table-1, the front Y end of each of said links beingpivoted at 209 between the lugs 206 in each pair, and the rear end ofsuch link being pivoted at 210 to a bracket 211 on the underside of thetable. A cam arm 212 is mounted loose at its front end on the shaft 25,and is provided with a roll 213 which rides on the cam 203, such rollbeing mounted on a stud or pin 214 set in said arm a short distance fromthe rear end thereof. As a means for connecting the rear end of the arm212 with the trap 205, I employ in this case two side rods 215 whichdepend from the pivots 209, two side bars 216 to the outturned tops ofwhich the lower terminals of said rods are fastened by nuts 217 threadedto said lower terminals one above and one below each of such outturnedtops or ears, a stifi'ening plate or cross-piece 218 connecting saidrods between said ears and the upper nuts, and a pivotpin 219 whichconnects the lower ends of said bars with each other and with 4said rearend of said arm, sleeves 220 and 221 being used on said pin between saidbars and said arm to separate them and add rigidity to the structure.

Loosely mounted at its front end on the shaft 25, at the right of thecam arm 212, is a cam arm 222 which has a roll 223 mounted on a stud orpin 224 at the rear end to ride on the cam 202. A connecting-rod 225 hasits base pivoted at 226 to the rear end of the arm 222 above the stud224, and is provided at its upper end with a head227. A lug 228 risesfrom the center of the head 227 between Jthe lugs 207 to be pivotedthereto at 229, two uprights 230 rise straight up from the sides of saidhead into the interior of the trap 205, and a corresponding number Vofcurved rests 231 extend rearwardly and upwardly from the head to supportthe back part of said trap when and while the trap is in its horizontalposition, the trap then receiving and bearing on said rests at pointsjust. inside of the innerlugs 206.

` said cams at all times.

The trap 205 is provided with two knockofi' ngers 232, each having aslot 233 in its body portion and a hook 234 at its rear end to engagethe back edge of an envelop on said trap, and being pivoted intermediateof its ends at 235 against the inside face of one of the inner lugs 206a little below the top of said trap. A pin 236 extends outward from eachupright 230 near the top into the slot 233 in the adjacent finger 232. Aslot 237 is cut in the top of the trap 205 for each finger 232, suchslot being so positioned as to enable the hooked portion of said fingerto operate in and out of the same from below or to strike upward andforward through said slot and then recede below said trap top.

Owing to the construction and weight of the parts which bear on the cams202 and 203, gravity alone may be depended on to keep the rolls 223 and213, respectively, on The shape of the cams 202 and 203 is such thatduring more than half of each revolution they maintain the trapmechanism in the positions shown in full and dotted lines in Figs. 12,14 and 15, with the trap 205 at its highest point approximately on alevel with the top of the table 1, then as said cams continue theirrotation and lower portions of their peripheries pass beneath the rolls223 and 213 the arms 222 and 212 and the connectingrods 225 andconnection between said arm 212 and the lugs 206 drop together an equaldistance and depress said trap without tilting it, the trap being drawntoward the rear a little way, however, by the links 208 which swingdown, and finally upon further rotation of the cams and as the low partof the cam 202 passes beneath the roll 223 and the adjacent higher partof the cam 203 passes beneath the roll 213 the front of the trap isdepressed sharply and the knock-off fingers 232 are suddenly thrown upthrough the slots 237 into an approximately vertical position, all asindicated by dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 15. These operations first takean envelop on the trap entirely out of the way of the folding mechanismand everything above said trap, and then unfailingly discharge saidenvelo into the chute 13. In tilting, the trap fu crums on the links208, also on the connection between the trap and the arm 212, and therelative positions of the pins 236 and pivots 235 cha-nge so that theformer occupy positions in what were formerly the back ends instead ofthe front ends of the slots 233 and are under said pivots, resulting inthe throwing up of the fingers 232. The rests 231 also pass away fromthe trap at this time, it not now being necessary that their function beexercised. Upon completing the revolution of the cams the movements justdescribed are reversed and the trap and fingers restored to initial ornormal positions, the cam 202 operating first to elevate the trap andwithdraw the fingers into said trap, and both cams operating then toelevate the trap to the receiving plate in the table 1.

The relation of the trap-operating mechanism to thefolding-plunger-operating mechanism is such, that is, the parts are soItimed, that the trap does not begin to descend until after thefolding-plunger, under the impulse imparted to it by the shoes 201, hascoinpressed and thoroughly sealed the envelop, and then said trap doesnot act to discharge the envelop into the chute until saidfoldingplunger has acted to force the envelop down out of thefolding-box. This last result is made possible by the permitted gravityaction of the folding-plunger and its carrying parts, limited by thestop pins 181. The shoes 201 maintain their influence over thefolding-plunger long enough for the trap to begin its descent whileunder pressure from said plunger.

The last mechanism to be described is that which delivers the envelops,one at a time, from the chute 13 to the receiving trough 14. Thismechanism comprises a sweep or presserarm 238 which moves the envelopforward, and top and bottom back-stops 239 and 240, respectively,arranged in pairs. In this connection see Figs. 1, 2, 21 and 22. Thepresser-arm 238 has a plat-e 241 at the upper end which is designed tosweep an envelop forward into the trough 14 from the chute 13. The baseof the presser-arm 233 is rigidly attached to a projection 242 at theright-hand end of a sleeve 243 loose on a horizontal stud 244. Saidsleeve is secured at its right-hand end to a bracket 245 which isfastened 'firmly to the fix-ed shaft 2G. Mounted on the stud 244 andrigidly attached to a projection 246 at the opposite end of the sleeve243 is an upwardly-extending cam arm 247 provided at its free terminaiwith a stud or pin 243 upon which is mounted a roll 249. The roll 249bears on a cam 250 tight on the main shaft 24. The arm 247 has a forwardextension 251 and is tensioned toward the cam 250 by means of a spring252 which connects said ext-ension with a collar 253 fast on the fixedshaft 25 above. From this it is seen that as the cam 250 revolves thearm 247 is caused to oscillate and to rock the presser-arm 233 back andforth on the stud 244, through the medium of the sleeve 243.

The floor of the trough 14 is provided at the rear with two hollowextensions 283 spaced apart and having their upper surfaces curveddownward slightly from front to back, as seen to best advantage in Fig'.21, and it is these curved surfaces that extend under the chute 13 toreceive the envelops as they slide down said chute in front of theposition which the Lplate 241 occupies when the presserarm 238 is thrownway back. Two inner flanges 254 on the side pieces which comprise thechute 13, adjacent to the back edges of such side pieces, constitute theruuway for the envelops, and the sides of the trough 14 at the back endare provided with inner flanges 255 which are generally horizontal, andthe plate 241 oscillates between a position behind the front faces ofsaid flanges 254, passing under them, and a posi tion in advance of theback-stops 239 andv 240, and between the extensions 283 and said flanges255, inwardly to carry an envelop in front of said plate from the chuteinto said trough, and rearwardly to take position for another' envelop.The usual weighted block (not shown) is employed in the trough 14against which the envelops are pressed as they are fed forward .intosaid trough, and it is for the purpose of supporting the envelopsbehind, when the plate 241 moves rearwardly, that the back stops 239 and240 are provided. The presser-arm 238 plays back and forth in the spacebetween the ex tensions 283.

The flanges 255y overcome any tendency which an envelop might have toride up while being deposited in the trough 14 by the presser-arm plate241, and each has an ear 256 which is fastened against the inside faceof one of the walls of said trough by a screw 257 that passes through aslot 258 in such wall into threaded engagement with said ear, the usualwasher being interposed between the wall and the head of said screw. Bythis means the flanges 255 can be adjusted to give the proper amount ofclearance between them and the extensions 283 for the envelops. Eachstop 239 is pivoted at 259 to one of the flanges 255 at the back end ofaslot 260 therein, and is so arranged that it normally hangs downthrough such slot and bears against said back edge to support frombehind and at the top envelops in the trough, but swings up into saidslot when pressure is applied from the rear by plate 241 to admit anenvelop being swept forward thereby into said trough. The operation ofthese gravity stops will be clearly apprehended from an inspection ofFig. 21. More substantial back-stops, automatically operated otherwisethan by the direct contact therewith of an envelop borne forward by theplate 241 and gravity, are required to hold in place at th-e bottom theenvelops in the trough 14, and such are found in the members 240including the operating mechanism therefor.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 21 and 22, it will be seen thateach stop 24() is so arranged in one of the extensions 283 as to projectnormally through a slot 261 in such extension above the floor thereof;that such stop has a lip 262 at the front end to prevent it from risingtoo far out of said slot, and has a slot 263 in its rear end to receivea horizontal pin 264 fixed in the inner wall of the extensionand a bar265 in said extension parallel with and adjacent to said inner wall; andthat said stop is piv-V ther than the latter, and then downward,

from a supporting part 273 of the machine frame. The bar 270 passesthrough a slot 274 in the hanger 272, which slot is long enough to allowsaid bar to move up and down therein. The upper edge of the bar 270 iscut away at 275, where said 'bar passes through the hanger 271, toreceive a stop 276 fastened againstthe front endV of said hanger. Thestop 276 limits the longitudinal movement of the bar 270 and especiallyits rearward travel, and said bar is held normally with the front end ofthe cut-away portion 27 5 against said stop by means of a spring 277which extends between a pin 278 at the front of the bar and a fixedpoint on the hanger 271. The back end of the aforesaid bar is in theform of a cam-head 279 which extends on both sides of the bar andinclines upwardly and rearwardly from'the lower front edges. Thearrangement and construction of these parts are such that the cam-head279, when in normal position, is directly behind the pins 269 with theirjuxtaposed terminals immediately adjacent to the bottom edges of saidhead. Having its front end pivoted at 280 to the bar 270 is an actuatingdog or arm 281 for said bar, which arm extends from its pivotal pointbackward through the hanger 272 into the path of travel of thepresser-arm 238.

In practice, when the presserarm 238 swings forward and before itarrives at the exposed or protruding parts of the backstops 240 abovethe extensions 283 said arm encounters the dog or arm 281, and forces itforward with the attached bar 270, against the resiliency of the spring27 7 As the bar 270 advances the cam-head 279 passes under the pins 269and so raises them and rocks the bell-crank-levers 267, with the resultthat the latter actuate the stops 240 backward and at the same timedownward on the pins 264 until they disappear entirely within the slots261 or below the upper surface of the

